Rose plant named &#39;SAVASLEEP&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘SAVasleep’ is a new and distinct variety of rose plant primarily identified by its fully double and very fragrant blooms of a dark to medium salmon-pink color. The flowers last very well on the plant and as cut flowers. It has proven to be easy to care for with its above average disease resistance.

CROSS REFERENCE

The cultivar from this same breeding program bearing some resemblance to this new invention is ‘SAVapeach’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/306,392, abandoned). Both cultivars have fragrant and fully double flowers on plants that grow wider than tall. There relationship is each one has the roses ‘Little Darling’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,581, expired) and ‘KORtember’ (Kordes, 1981, not under patent protection in the United States) in there background—‘Little Darling’ is a great-grandparent of both cultivars and the fragrant hybrid tea, ‘KORtember’, is pollen parent in ‘SAVapeach’ and grandparent in the new invention. ‘SAVapeach’ has blooms of an apricot-blend and the new invention has salmon-pink flowers.

RIGHTS TO THE INVENTION

Be it known that I, Wendy R. White, of Ipswich, Mass., claim invention of new and useful improvements in ROSE PLANT/var. ‘SAVasleep’ and following is a clear and exact description of the same.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rosa hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘SAVasleep’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy, bush type rose plant. This new variety was created by me under controlled conditions in a greenhouse in Rowley, Mass., by crossing an unintroduced miniature seedling of Party Girl (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,598, expired) by ‘SAVaspark’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,799) with the hybrid tea ‘MACgenev’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,279).

The idyllic goal of this breeding program was to produce unique miniature roses with the qualities of disease resistance, hardiness, fragrance and abundant bloom from late spring to late fall. Roses selected as pollen and seed parents for this program are chosen for having at least two of these qualities. These roses are crossed with miniatures having, primarily, abundant bloom production and, preferably, any or all of the other desired qualities. The seed parent chosen for this cross had abundant bloom production on a compact, miniature plant. The plant chosen as pollen parent, ‘MACgenev’, is known to be very fragrant, to have good disease resistance and to be winter hardy to zone 5. This new invention has been found to have good disease resistance, is hardy to at least zone 5, is fragrant and blooms almost continuously throughout the growing season. It is rather large for the miniature class into which it was first registered but may fit well into the mini-flora class that was created after inception of this breeding program.

Differences from the parents are visually obvious. The seed parent was a more upright growing, miniature rose with somewhat smaller flowers that were a lighter shade of pink. The pollen parent is a hybrid tea with plant, foliage and flowers that are more than twice as big as those of the new invention. The color of the flowers of ‘MACgenev’ is similar to that of the new invention. The new invention does flower abundantly like its seed parent.

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of this new invention in both Rowley, Mass. and Arroyo Grande, Calif., shows that all distinguishing characteristics of this rose continually come true to form.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy, low growing, bush type rose plant. The characteristics distinguishing it from its parents and from all other cultivars, of which I am aware, are its unique combination of flower form, flower size, petal count, fragrance and color combined with its plant habit, size and color of foliage, and its degree of disease resistance. Specific distinguishing characteristics are:

-   -   Fully double flowers that last well on the plant and as cut         flowers     -   Moderate to strong, sweet fragrance     -   Medium green, semi-glossy foliage     -   A bushy and compact plant that can grow to a three-foot spread         but generally only 15 to 18 inches tall. Some locations may see         it send up individual canes that reach up to three feet tall.     -   Above average disease resistance

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color photograph, taken with artificial lighting in February, shows specimens of the flowers of this new variety in different stages of development, from bud to full open bloom, with sepals, young and older foliage and stems with some prickles, as grown under shaded plastic in a greenhouse in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Lying on the table in front of the flowers is a candelabra stem. At the back of the arrangement are laterals or flowering stems from a candelabra, each with a single bud. The inset picture at the lower right corner of the photograph was taken with natural daylight of flowers grown in a plastic covered greenhouse with a roof that is opened during the day, weather permitting.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisons describe 3 and 6 year old plants of Rosa hybrida, ‘SAVasleep’, grown in 2 and 3 gallon nursery containers in plastic covered and shaded greenhouses in Arroyo Grande, Calif. The information about the rose hips and some about the reproductive organs of this cultivar were taken from plants grown in a plastic covered greenhouse in Rowley, Mass. Color references are using The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, except where common terms of color are used.

FLOWERS

-   Blooming habit: is long bloom cycles with a fast repeat. Flowers are     borne mostly singly but also in clusters of two or three. Clusters     on candelabra growth, when present, are pyramidal with 5 to 9 blooms     or more in each cluster. (Candelabras are discussed in length near     the end of the section describing the plant in the paragraph     entitled “VARIATIONS”.) -   Bud: form is cuneate with an attenuate apex. The length of the bud     averages ½ inch and the diameter varies from ⅜ inch to 7/16 inch,     just before the sepals divide. -   Sepals: Flowers have five or six sepals. The outer surfaces are     matte and a medium green color, between 144A and 138B. Inside     surfaces have a pubescent covering and are a color between 191 B and     191 C, from the Greyed-Green Group, with a basal area of light     yellow-green, nearest 145C.

The sepals extend beyond the tip of the bud by ½ to ⅝ inch. The outer sepals are 1 ⅛ to 1 ¼ inches long and 9/32 inch wide at the widest point. An outer sepal with a length of 1 ⅛ inches has a cuneate form upward from the base for ½ inch, becomes attenuate for 5/16 inch and has a 5/16 inch spindle-like apex. Two innermost sepals vary in length from ⅞ inch to 1 3/16 inch having attenuate apices and are ¼ to 5/16 inch wide at the widest point. The one or two sepals in-between the inner and outer sepals usually vary from 1 3/32 to 1 3/16 inches long and 9/32 or 10/32 inch wide. Margins are ciliate.

Sepals roll back ahead of the petals to perpendicular to the receptacle and the tips slightly recurve. They drop from the plant with the petals.

-   The receptacle: is funnel to urn shaped with a diameter of 5/16 to ⅜     inch and a height of ⅜ inch. The surface is medium green, between     138B and 143C, and semi-glossy, with long soft, upright hairs. The     top surface is circular with an 1/32 inch diameter and an alveola in     the center measuring 7/32 inch diameter. The color of the top     surface is near 160C from the Greyed-Yellow Group. -   Peduncles: are straight and strong, varying in length from 1 ⅝     inches to 2 inches and a diameter most often 7/64 inch. Their color     is a Scheele's Green, nearest 143C. Attached to the base of the     peduncle is often a narrow, single leaflet at the end of a petiole     with a pair of stipules attached the entire length of the petiole.     The tips of these stipules angle out at 15 to 40 degrees from the     petiole. -   Bloom: Diameter of a full open bloom is three inches with a 1 ¾     inches height. At exhibition stage the diameter is between 1 ⅞ and 2     ⅛ inches. When full-blown and petals are starting to fade the     diameter is 3 ½ inches with a profile height of 1 ½ to 1 ⅝ inches. -   Petals: There are 45 to 55 petals of a medium thickness with a     velvety upper surface and satiny lower surface. The shape of the     outer petals is broad fan-shaped with an arcuate outer margin and an     acute tip at the apex having a notch on either side of it. The size     of the outer petals in a full-blown flower varies from 1 ⅜ to 1 ¾     inches wide and 1 ¼ to 1 11/16 inches long.

The color first visible as the sepals start begin to open is a deep color between 43B and near 51A, both from the Red Group. As the petals unfurl, the color lightens slightly to between 43B and 52B. The first few days the petals become between 43C and 52C on the upper surface with the under surface nearest 43D, which is a Scarlet. The basal area on the upper surface is near 14C, Lemon Yellow. The reverse of the petals may have a near white streak up the middle.

Half open the upper surface becomes nearest 43D and a little lighter on the under surface, between 49B and 38B. The yellow of the basal area has lightened to Chrome Yellow, near 14D, and is only visible as the first outer petals open. As succeeding petals unfurl the basal area becomes concealed from view.

Full open bloom shows a near uniform color between near 52C and near 43D. The basal area of the petals is Chrome Yellow on the inner petals and much lighter on the outer petals becoming near 158B. The reverse of the petals has lightened to a color between 39D and 55C.

-   Petaloides: have the same coloring and texture as the inner petals     and often will have near white, nearest 158D, streaking up through     the middle on both surfaces. The outer margins will often look     tattered or torn especially when there is a white streak up through     the center of the petaloid. -   General tonality: of this rose is a dark salmon-pink. From a     distance the blooms appear to be a dark to medium pink. After     several days the bush would appear to have both dark to medium pink     and medium to light salmon-pink blooms. -   Quaality of bloom: Petals are of a medium thickness. The bloom on     the plant usually remains fresh for well over a week, depending on     climatic conditions. The petals drop cleanly from the plant. As cut     flowers they can last 10 days and more.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens: are regularly attached along the outer edge of the     receptacle, adjacent to the petals. The quantity varies from 120     to 148. The filaments are 8/32 to 9/32 inch long and a medium yellow     color of near 3C. Anthers are near a light yellow-orange with pollen     sacs of a medium yellow-orange.

There are around 40 to 60 PISTILS located in the alveola in the top of the receptacle. The styles are thin and straight, varying from 3/16 to 5/16 inch long. The color is nearest 158D from the Yellow-White Group. The stigmas are nearest 158C.

-   The hips: are pear shaped with a diameter of around 9/16 inch at the     widest part. The color when mature is near 30C, Saturn Red, with one     or more seeds protruding from the top of near 160D. There averages     around 8 medium-sized seeds per hip.

PLANT

The plant of ‘SAVasleep’ is generally upright; the general height is 15 to 18 inches while the width can become two to three feet. Branching originates from a main cane. Growth is vigorous. The length of the internodes on the main cane is 1 ½ inches; on the primary laterals it is about 1 inch usually with four per stem; and on the flowering stem there are four to eight nodes around 1 ⅛ inches apart after a couple of closer ones at the base.

-   Foliage: is pinnately compound with 5 leaflets and occasionally 3.     The size of the leaflets and the length of the rachis are usually     larger towards the top of the plant, with the shortest leaflets on     those leaves located near the base of each stem. The length of the     mature leaf ranges from 3 11/16 to 4 inches. The shape of the     leaflets is narrow-ovate. The terminal leaflet will sometimes have a     narrow base giving it the overall shape of oblong with an acute tip.     The size of the mature terminal leaflet generally ranges from 1 ¼ to     1 ⅝ inches long and ¾ to 13/16 inches wide. The upper surface is     semi-glossy and glabrous with the main vein recessed and the primary     lateral veins recessed, decreasing toward the margin where they are     only slightly recessed. The underside is matte and leathery with the     main vein protruding completely, the primary laterals protruding     entirely where they connect to the main vein and decreasing to not     protruding at all just before they reach the leaf margin, and the     secondary laterals protrude only slightly.

There is anthocyanin coloring present on the young foliage. The upper surface is a medium green, nearest 138A, with flushing of grayed-purple, near 187B, concentrated near the margins. The under surface is nearest 138B, usually flushed lightly with near 187C. The main vein and margins are flushed darker, near 187B. The color of the older foliage is dark green, near 139A, and the under surface is near 191A from the Greyed-Green Group with the main veins between 149D and 139D

-   Petioles: vary in length from 11/16 inch to 1 5/16 inches with a     diameter most often of 3/32 inch. There is anthocyanin coloring on     the young growth. The color on the older leaves is near 139A along     the ridges and nearest 148D, a medium color from the Yellow-Green     Group, in the groove. The undersides may be nearest 138A or 138B. -   Rachis: The length of the rachis is most often ⅝ inch. The color on     upper side of mature leaves is dark green along the ridges, near     139A, and light green, near 145B in the groove. The underside is a     light yellow-green, between 139D and 149D. There is most often a     prickle at or near the point where the leaflets are attached. -   Petiolules: are nearest a dark green, 137B, along the ridges and     145B in the groove with the exception that the groove of the     petiolule to the terminal leaflet is near 145B but becomes near 145C     just before entering into the terminal leaflet. The underside is     between 139D and 149D. The length to the terminal leaflet is around     ⅞ inch and to the other leaflets is 1/16 inch. -   Stipules: are attached one to each side of the petiole in near even     pairs. They are most often angled about 45 degrees adaxial with the     tips recurving inward, toward each other. The length is most often ½     inch attached and 3/16 inch angled outward at 45 degrees. Margins     appear penctate as the result of stipitate glands. The edges usually     recurve tightly, although they occasionally lay flat. The color is     near 148C where they are attached to the petiole, between 138A and     139B along the outer edges, and the tips are nearest 139A. The     reverse is nearest 138B. -   Wood: The diameter of the main stems is 7/32 inch and that of the     laterals is around ⅛ inch. The color of the new wood is near 138A     and the old wood is between 137A and 139A. The surfaces of both old     and new stems are glabrous. -   Prickles: On the main stalks there are two or three prickles between     nodes, usually within ½ inch of the upper node. Their length varies     between ¼ inch and 9/32 inch. On laterals there may be one between     nodes but most often there are none. On flowering stems there may be     one between the lower nodes within ¼ inch of the higher node,     otherwise there are none. Their length varies from 5/32 inch to ¼     inch. The thorns have a very slight arch downward as they taper to a     point, and an oval base. The length of the base on the main canes is     about 3/16 inch. Their color when young is nearest 182C from the     Greyed-Red Group and near translucent. When old the color becomes     between 177A and 177B from the Greyed-Orange Group. On the     rachis/petiole the color is a medium green, near 138C. -   Variations: A difference in day and night temperatures greater than     around 30 degrees will cause the plant to send up long, fast growing     canes from the base of the plant. These canes have been observed up     to 36 inches long and always terminate in a large cluster of     flowers. The length of the nodes on these canes has been measured     most often at 1 ⅞ inches. The length of mature leaves measure around     4 ¾ inches. Terminal leaflets have been measured around 1 1/16 at     the widest point, 2 3/16 inches in length and with a petiole length     varying between 1 inch and 1 5/16 inches. Stipules average 21/32     inch attached and 8/16 to 9/16 inch angled outward. The diameter     most often found on these candelabra-type stems is 17/64 inch on the     main canes. Laterals may originate on the upper third of these canes     with a diameter of 3/16 inch. Prickles on the main canes range from     four between nodes near the base, then to three between nodes and     closer to the top of these canes there are only one or two between     nodes. On the main canes they are about 7/16 inch long and on the     laterals they measure ¼ inch long. There form is attenuate with a     slight angle down. The color when young is between 166A and 175A.     When old the color becomes near 177A. -   Resistance: This new cultivar has proven to be highly resistant to     blackspot, and powdery and downy mildews. Rust has not been observed     and it would appear to have at least some resistance to rust. Aphids     and spider mites have not proven to be a problem for this cultivar,     indicating some resistance. -   Winter hardiness: ‘SAVasleep’ has been tested winter hardy to zone 5     with winter protection. Heat Tolerance has been tested through heat     zone 8 

1. A new and distinct variety of hardy rose plant is claimed, substantially as illustrated and described, with long lasting and sweetly fragrant, salmon-pink flowers borne on a vigorous plant and having over-all good disease resistance and suitable for production from softwood cuttings. 